By Hsu Latt Phyu - Jul 12, 2024
More than 200 workers from CHARIS bronze figurine factory are peacefully protesting to give 5,800 kyats daily wages and 1,400 kyats per hour of overtime as the current wages 4,800 kyats per day and 1,200 kyats per hour of hour time doesn’t cover their expenses.
They also demand for legal casual and medical leaves, not to demand excessive toy output demands and to give the bonus equally.
“The employer said they would be monitoring how long would the workers will be able to protest and said they don’t interest in resolving the matter,” the worker said.
The factory is a factory located in Mya Tharaphi Street, Mya Sein Yaing Industrial Zone, Hlaing Thar Yar and operating with more than 200 workers. The workers said there is no trade union in the factory to address the disputes.
“We peacefully protested since July 8th as the wages and expenses are not covered. We demand a pay raise of 5,800 kyats daily wages and 1,400 kyats per hour of overtime but the employer said they can’t give and we can complaint wherever we like to,” the worker said.
It is reported that the issue has not yet been resolved and the demands are still being made.
"We were asked for 100 bronze figurine per hour. The toys are difficult to make but we pressured to get the outputs and discriminated against if we can’t," the worker said.
“The supervisors didn’t give the bonus which we can once in two months equally to all workers. They bias the workers who are close to the. The factory move to Mya Sein Yaung Industrial Zone from its old place. There are workers with 5 years of service,” they said.
“They said social security is entitled only after we have worked for 9 months. There is no causal leave and we need prescription to take a medical leave as well or else we can be dismissed,” the worker said.
There are many day laborers hired in the workplace and their overtimes wages are paid only after a week although they are called overtime on Sundays
The workers’ demands are
1. To give 5,800 kyats daily wages
2. To give 1,400 kyats per hour for overtime
3. To grant legal casual and medical leaves
4. The supervisors to give bonus equally to all workers
5. To not ask unfair bronze figurine output demands
